by Simon B » Sat Feb 28, 2004 1:47 pm
Honoured to have met and listened last night to the playing of Orlando Poleo and Giraldo Piloto (Klimax drummer and leader) as they played in a 'Class of 1980 ReUnion' gig of friends from the Cuban Arts School organised by Cuban violinist resident in England, Omar Puente. All members of the band played wonderfully but what an incredible pair of percussionists! Poleo came on first to deliver a ten minute modernist exploration of the congas - double-stroke excursions and musical Anga-style patterns - whilst never straying for too long from the 'marcha' rhythm. Then Pilato arrived and demonstrated a sort of ultra-rudiments meets Latin and Funk phrasing as he rolled about the tiny kit to bewilderment and applause. Finally the rest of the band turned out to deliver a real mixture of styles, from Timba to Danson, the bongosero whose name I can only remember as Noba playing on my bongos (he had been called in at last minute - thank you Noba for the tips you gave me for my playing). Pilato told me very modeslty that he doesn't even practice anymore due to time spent composing!
Simon B